By OBOH SYLVESTER
Modern liberalism is the deliberate use of the state resources for the benefit of society and generality of its citizenry. It equally deals with the principle of equity, equality and support for social justice. This especially, is the broad mindedness to help support the generality of the people who cannot support themselves and to use the state resources to their benefits.
In Edo state under this context, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia and Prof. Ambrose Alli; both of blessed memory, can obviously best be described as classical examples of liberal democrats until the emergence of Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2016.The duo were strategic and instituted enduring successes, selfless and genuine visions of collective progressivism in both human, material resources and infrastructure that still spread across the defunct Bendel state.
While it is noteworthy to highlight that circumstances are never the same, it is equally imperative to state that subsequent governors since 1999, with the exception of Chief Lucky Igbinedion, cannot be auspicious enough to be so described as liberal democrat.
This is significantly due to the new mode of politics that was invented in Nigeria soon after the end of the Military interregnum in 1999. And for these obvious reasons, subsequent governors until November 2016, can be clearly excused to the extent that the contentious political system allowed them to perform their governance, duties and responsibilities before the emergence of Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2016.
The military General Ogbemudia and the erudite World Renowned Professor of Morbid Anatomy in their respective times, sign-posted long lasting infrastructure, enduring and genuine welfare ideals with incontrovertible focus. Their tenure of leadership were devoid of political patronage by people of excessive dominant tendencies and stronghold elimination principles, laced with tyranny and private undertakings rather than credible distribution and redistribution of common patrimony.
It is on this basis that several issues concerning the tenure and numerous achievements of Godwin Obaseki can be better x-rayed for the benefit of democratic posterity and liberal affinity.
First, it is very significant to find out whether Governor Obaseki has the appropriate disposition and temperament to solve Edo State’s physical infrastructure.
It is equally important to interpret the central challenges towards solving these infrastructure defaults rather than resorting to polarization and unnecessarily alarms being touted by political oppositions?
To these inquiries, it is important to emphasise that Governor Godwin Obaseki, both by body language and relevant reforms, has the never-ending positivism and absolute desire to solve the physical infrastructure deficit in Edo State.
However, it is suffices to say that the necessary financial resources to solve them are not readily available. In other words, Governor Godwin Obaseki does not have all the needed resources and time to solve every challenge in Edo, even when we know that governorship is statutorily tenured.
The next question then is why the contentious and premeditated alarms from the oppositions, in spite of the numerous reforms and legacy achievements of Governor Obaseki’s administration in the last seven (7) years.
A critical look at the ongoing reforms in Edo gives a clear prelude that the significant strategic achievement of Obaseki’s administration is capable of driving Edo State into a foundation of globally recognised entity in technology, work culture and service delivery.
To this end, it is imperative to highlight that all the current infrastructure deficit and challenges in Edo as being hypothesized rightly or wrongly by political oppositions simply because of the forthcoming Governorship election in September, out rightly predate Governor Godwin Obaseki’s emergence in 2016.
In other words, if it were possible for one governor to solve all the social problems in Edo State in just one leap, Governor Godwin Obaseki would have met Edo in a state of Uhuru and El Dorado in 2016.
Prior to 2016, Edo was replete with poor institutions, knowledge gap and inadequate in-house expertise in major government sectors and ministries.
Labour leaders like Comrade Emma Ademokun and other NLC members were visibly manhandled, beaten to stupor and their heads broken for daring to demand for their rights and welfare allowances.
At that material time, it took our revered Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa’s divine wisdom and intervention to call back Edo workers to work.
In the period before 2016, workers and citizens were openly threatened, intimidated and were told to go and die. This has never happened since Obaseki became the Governor of Edo State.
For Governor Obaseki, workers in Edo do not even have to wait indefinitely for complex protocol of increasing minimum wage or any entanglement before up scaling their salary.
Without any prompting, Governor Obaseki graciously surpassed the National Minimum Wage of N30,000 and increased it to N40,000 in Edo. Even as we speak, he has again increased Edo State Minimum wage to N70,000.00 effect from May 1, 2024.
By the tip of their fingers, pensioners in Edo can now do their regular screening in less than 5 minutes without necessarily queuing up for hours unending, while some even die after the previous burdensome screening. This has been permanently cured by the milestone pension reforms instituted under Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo State.
After 34 years of demise, it took the pension and workers-friendly Governor Godwin Obaseki’s liberal disposition to remember and settled the benefits and gratuity of the former and first Executive Governor of Bendel state, the late Prof. Ambrose Alli.
Again in the very recent times, Governor Godwin Obaseki took it upon himself to build a very befitting Labour House for Edo Workers at Temboga. The Labour House has been named after his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole whom many perceived as his political arch-rival. This gesture obviously shows that Governor Obaseki understands democracy and recognizes its principles, power and its applications. It evidently shows that he is sensitive, very responsive and ever ready to do the right thing at all times.
In November 9, 2016, His Royal Highness, the Ujuromi of Uromi was sacrilegiously suspended and ostensibly deposed from the Royal throne of his ancestors. It was Governor Obaseki that restored the Royal Highness’ privileges in 2022.
Therefore, whatever reasons whatsoever, rightly or wrongly believed to be the spring board of the ongoing reforms, performances and achievements of Governor Godwin Obaseki, such reasons will ultimately become irrelevant, immaterial and may not necessarily be a subject of debate simply because, there is no substitute to doing the right thing for the purpose of common good.
In addition to the free inter and intra transportation since 2023, Governor Obaseki’s administration has put in place, automatic first class graduate employment in Edo.
He has equally brought to life Edo Refinery; Osiomo Power plant; Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS); Emotan Garden City and Judges Quarters.He has built Edo Mall; Benin Central Park; Rebuilt Edo State College of Nursing; Remodelled College of Health Technology; Constructed Education Hub at Iyaro and also Constructed Stella Obasanjo Hospital Extension.
Others include functional Emergency call numbers 122 and 739; Green Hill Ethanol Factory for the production of Ethanol using Cassava and Establishment of Calcium Carbonate Processing Plant at Lampese, Akoko Edo among others.
These and many more are evidently safe enough to credit Governor Godwin Obaseki as a Liberal Democrat and a silent achiever in governance.
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